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Happier Than Ever by Billie Eilish
Happier Than Ever by Billie Eilish
2021 | Alternative
8
7.5 (4 Ratings)
Album Rating
Vocals are outstanding (1 more)
Very catchy
Doesn't feel as edgy as her earlier music (0 more)
Great, ethereal sound, but less edgy
I won the Smashbomb giveaway for this album, and ended up giving it to my son for his 18th birthday... however, despite not being a huge fan of Billie Eilish, I still really enjoy it!

Billie's ethereal vocals are always outstanding, and this latest offering almost has an "older" feel to it in places. It's more upbeat in general, but has some old-timey sounds to certain songs (the title track, "Happier Than Ever" in particular, until about half way through).

One thing I did notice, is the songs seem less edgy (in their sound, not the lyrics)... so there aren't any tracks which are really comparable to earlier songs like Bad Guy, or You Should See Me In A Crown etc.

The inlay cover and artwork is all very nice, and beautifully presented in a gatefold-style cardboard case.

All-in-all though, it's a nice evolution of Billie's music, and I'm interested to see how she progresses over time.
  
This Way to Murder
This Way to Murder
Shelley Shearer | 2024 | Mystery
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Can Remi Follow the Clues to Find a Killer?
Remi McKenna is hosting a letterboxing event with some friends in the town where she is planning to move. Along for the ride is her best friend, Trace Cooper. However, Trace has brought a problem with her. She’s been getting some weird texts and phone calls recently, and it appears her potential stalker has followed her. Can Remi juggle the event she is running with trying to figure out if her best friend is truly in danger?

This debut had some promise to it. I really did enjoy the main characters, for example. The supporting characters tended to blend together for me. While the letterboxing event was fun, I was expecting a bit more about the board game cafe instead of it being a subplot. The pacing for the mystery is a bit off, but things made sense when we reached the end. I’d consider giving a second in the series a chance, but I’d hope some of these kinks would be worked out.
  
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022)
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022)
2022 | Action, Comedy
6
7.8 (6 Ratings)
Movie Rating
This was a movie that, while I had no real plans to see it in the cinema myself, if somebody had asked me to go along with them I probably would have said "aye, why not?" to.

In this, Nic Cage plays a fictionalised version of himself who is thinking of giving up acting and then accepts a 1 million dollar pay-day from a superfan (the internets current BFF Pedro Pascal) to come and visit him for his birthday celebrations, unaware that the FBI believe that superfan to be a drug kingpin and with the FBI then suborning Cage to spy on said fan.

The rest of the film then plays out as a sort of buddy comedy, with Cage and Pascal (not all as he seems) then finding themselves caught up in various, sometimes ridiculous, situations and as they start using their experiences more and more towards the plot of a film that Gutierrez has dreamed up for Cage to star in.

So, yeah, better than I was expecting and it did even make me laugh once or twice!
  
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Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post

Jul 19, 2022  
Where are my mystery book lovers? Come watch a creepy video #Excerpt from DEADLY KEEPSAKES by Anita Dickason on my blog. Make sure to enter the awesome giveaway for a chance to win a copy of the book, a tote bag, and bookmarks - three winners!

https://alltheupsandowns.blogspot.com/2022/07/book-blog-tour-and-giveaway-deadly.html

**BOOK SYNOPSIS**
When Tori Winters becomes the star witness in a murder trial, someone tries to kill her. Terrified, she’s not giving the killer a second chance. With all her worldly possessions packed in her car, Tori is on the run. A mysterious phone call about an inheritance leads her to Granbury. After all, who would look for her in a small, quaint Texas town?

Instead, Tori’s life is about to spin into an existence where nothing is as it seems. The historic house she inherits is steeped in secrets from the past. Secrets that may prove deadly. A stranger in a strange town, who can she trust? There is the disinherited step-grandson and the lawyer and his son. What are they hiding?
     
The Fire King's Daughter (The Descendants #1)
The Fire King's Daughter (The Descendants #1)
T.E. Ridener | 2022 | Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
THE FIRE KING'S DAUGHTER is the first in The Descendants series and we start with Heidi and Isaiah. Both of them are heirs to the throne, of the Fire and Ice thrones respectively, but they are sent to Earth to protect them from the war that is currently raging. Isaiah finds his feet quickly enough, but Heidi struggles.

This was a quick read that draws you in, giving out information about the kingdoms, the monarchies, Heidi, Isaiah, plus others, as and when needed rather than being an info-dump. There is a possible romantic connection here between Heidi and Isaiah that I look forward to reading more about. Let's just say... they have potential!

This story is only just starting and you are left with a cliffhanger, so fair warning! A great start to a series and definitely recommended by me.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
  
The Origins (The Olason Chronicles #4)
The Origins (The Olason Chronicles #4)
J. A. Boulet | 2022 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
A gripping and absorbing read.
THE ORIGINS is the fourth book in The Olason Chronicles but it takes you back to the beginning. I haven't read any of the other books but they are now on my TBR list.

The world Margret, Einar, and Magnus inhabit is richly detailed, both in landscape and also hardships. You stay with Margret as she follows her heart in directions not always immediately clear. The imagery the author gives you as they go about their day-to-day business is clear and concise, allowing you to live in the moment with them.

The pacing was perfect, giving you time to absorb all going on without any slow patches. This was a gripping and absorbing read that I thoroughly enjoyed and have no hesitation in recommending.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
  
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Merissa (14025 KP) rated Good Golly Miss Molly in Books

Apr 26, 2022 (Updated Jun 24, 2023)  
Good Golly Miss Molly
Good Golly Miss Molly
Aislinn Archer | 2022 | Paranormal, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
GOOD GOLLY MISS MOLLY is the prequel novella to the Mystic Beach series. If you're looking for a short, steamy, and intriguing story, then congratulations! Because that's what you've found.

The story focuses on Molly and Logan, two people who live in Mystic Beach but, for their own reasons, thought they'd never find someone to be with. Sometimes, giving in to doughnuts rewards you in ways you never imagined!

You also get hints and teasers about other characters, as well as the magic Mystic Beach may have. All in all, this was a quick read that has completely whetted my appetite for more! Looking forward to reading Once Upon a Dream which is due for release this summer. Until then, I definitely recommend you get your mitts on this prequel.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Apr 26, 2022